Anyone think that Newmarket was desperately disappointing this week?
Newbury has some interesting looking maidens and other races so I'll have a small play.
2.50 Star Of Seville 9/2 showed promise with a debut 3rd at Leicester over 7f (2nd won since and winner entered up in the 2000 Guineas), before demolishing rivals at Doncaster over 1m at the end of the season. Two things were clear- this is a horse who is a real galloper and has stamina a plenty, and the step up from 7f to 1m in softer conditions brought out that strength to the tune of a 6L victory over DREAMLIKE. Dreamlike has won a Lingfield maiden since, beating a horse who has won a Chelmsford maiden since. There were some well bred sorts in behind Star Of Seville at Doncaster and with the decent looking form of the 2nd, I get the impression that the 3rd-8th placed horses might also add depth to that form in time.
The step up in trip to 10f is a masive positive, as is a galloping Newbury track. The yard won this with Western Hymn last year and hopefully Star Of Seville can add his name to the Gosden winners roster.
5.30 Forever Popular 3/1 sees Richard Hughes booked for debut and the short price and double Group1 entry suggests that this might be a nice one. The sister to Midday (SHOAL) should ensure prices remain fair in the book but as Stoute tends to bring them on slowly, and she lacks any big entries, you would think today is about learning for her so the eyecatching booking of Hughes looks like Haggas unleashing a smart type.
Haggas last 4 runners form is 2211, so hopefully he is due to start the season well.
Of the rest, I thought most intriguing was Thaqaffa (2.20) for Marcus Tregoning, as he seems quite happy with his bunch of 2 year olds this season, with this ones resale price almost twice the amount, and liked Hughie Morrisons Star Rider (1.50), as we have that interesting mix of Cape Cross and Sadlers Wells bloodline (Cape Cross sire out of a Galileo (son of Sadlers Wells & Urban Sea) mare. There was a horse once called Sea The Stars who was decent, who had a similar bloodline, right?!